Crank shaft oiling system



Feb. 21, 1933. F. T. IRGENS CRANK SHAFT OILING SYSTEM Filed July 5, 1828 2 Sheets-Sheet l noentoz fjzzzz Tfrgsns w attorney Feb. 21, 1933.

F, T; IRGENS CRANK SHAFT OILING SYSTEM Filed July 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ave/"tor Finn 7711-95125 attocmu Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FINN T. IRGEN S, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO OUTBOARD MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN CRANK SHAFT OILING- SYSTEM Application filed July 5, 1928. Serial N 290,314.

My inventionpertains to a novel lubricating system for internal combustion engines having a crank case with alternatingly partial vacuum and pressure. The object of the present invention is to utilize the oil supplied in the crank case for lubrication of the crank shaft bearings by means of a system of passages leading to the bearings. The movement of the piston is adapted to create a partial vacuum within the casing and the atmospheric pressure is employed to carry the oil through the bearings and return it to the supply.

A further object is to lubricate the bearings of an internal combustion engine by using the oil supplied in the crank case in such a manner that the oil circulates through the bearings and returns to the crank case supply by forced circulation. The forced circulation is the result of less than atmospheric pressure within the crank case which eliminates any leakage of oil from the exposed. outward ends of the crank shaft bearings.

A still further object is to construct a lubricating system adaptable to internal combustion engines of the type in which oil, gasoline and air are mixed in the crank case, or engine containing undiluted oil in the crank case. The oil is forced from the crank case, when under pressure, into pockets formed in the crank shaft journals, passing from these pockets back into the crank case when under suction. The journal pockets are timed to produce oil-moving pulsations corresponding to the alternate suction and compression movements of the pistons.

The manner in which I attain these objects is clearly disclosed by way of example in the following description with reference.

to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through the cylinder and crank case of an internal combustion engine Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan of an internal combustion engine ofthe two cylinder type employing a modified form of my invention; and

Figure 5 is a vertical cross section on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a single cylinder type of internal combustion engine in which the crank case is used as a pump and in which the gasoline, air and oil enter. The numeral 1 indicates the explosion cylinder and 2 indicates the fuel intake positioned in the lower sleeve portion of the cylinder by which the gasoline is admitted to the crank case 3. The channel 4 and the port 5 admit the fuel mixture to the explosion chamber 6, in which operates the piston 7, and thence to the exhaust port 8.

As is usual in two cycle engines of the type illustrated, the oil is mixed with the fuel and is atomized by the air and enters the engine therewith through port 2. A portion of it separates out by gravity and by contact with the crank case walls and remains in the crank case when the carbureted air comprising the charge is transferred to the cylinder.

The crank case 3 is formed with a well 9, in which is deposited a quantity of the separated lubricating oil, and is equipped with bearings and 11 in which are journals 12 and 13 of the crank shaft 14. The crank shaft is provided with a crank bearing 15 connected to the piston by a usual piston connecting rod 16.

The end of the crank shaft journal 12 supported in the bearing 10 is flattened as at 17 providing. an oil collecting recess. A channel 18 in the crank case passes through the journal 12 and registers with the recess .17 in the crank shaft in certain positions of the latter. The channel 18 is provided with a tap 19 which is connected by a pipe 20 to the tap 21 in the upper bearing 11 of the crank case. The tap 21 registers with the spiral oil grooves 22 and 23 in the bearing 11, these grooves 22 and 23 supplying the lubricating oil to the journal 13.

In communication with the well 9 is an angular extension 25 which registers wlth the recess 17 in the crank shaft journal at the time of pressure in the crank case. The bearing 10 is grooved interiorly to provide an air inlet 26 to the recess 17 of the crank shaft journaled at the time of partial vacuum in the crank case.

The oil deposited in the well flows into the entrance of channel 24, and is forced by crank case compression at the time of the working stroke into passage 25 and thence into the recess 17 of the crank shaft. The crank shaft revolves and carries the oil in the recess 17 to register with the channel 18. At this time the piston is on the intake stroke and has created a partial vacuum in the crank case. At the time of this suction, air is admitted through the inlet 26 and carries the oilthrough the channel 18, the tap 1 9,

the pipe 20 to the grooves 22 and 23 which lubricate the journal 13.

In the modified structure as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 is shown an internal combustion engine having two cylinders. This engine is also of the type having crank case suction periodically.

The numeral 30 indicates the crank shaft which is surrounded and supported in a crank case 31 which is provided with bearings 32 and 33 respectively for supporting the ends of the crank shaft. The crank shaft is provided with the upper crank 34 supporting a piston connecting rod bearing 35, and with a lower crank 36 supporting a piston connecting rod bearing 37.

The crank case is provided with wells 38 and 39 in which a quantity of lubricating oil is deposited. The well 39 registers with a channel 40 which is positioned opposite a recess 41 in the crank shaft 30. At a certain stage of the revolution of the crank shaft, oil is deposited in the recess 41 from the channel 40. The recess carries the oil, with the revolution of the shaft, until it registers with an air inlet 42. The atmospheric pressure being greater than the pressure within the crank case causes the air to rush through the inlet 42 and carry the oil from the recess 41 into the port 43 which leads back into the crank case. The channel 44 connecting with the port 43 communicates with the bearing 37 and the oil is carried to'this hearing by the contrifugal action due to the rotation of the crank shaft 30.

. The oil deposited in the well 38 circulates through the channel 45 into the recess 46 in the crank shaft 30. The recess 46 carries the oil to the channel 47 and at the same time to the air inlet 48 in the journal 33. The oil is carried by the air into the channel 47 which leads to the pipe 49. The pipe 49 is connected by a tap 50 to the upper bearing 32 of the crank shaft 30. The crank shaft is provided with a recess 51 which registers, at the completion of a revolution, with the tap 50, and which is provided with a port 52 leading from the recess 51 back to the crank case. The channel 53 communicates with the port 52 and leads to the bearing 35,

the oil being carried through this channel to the bearing by the centrifugal action due to the rotation of the shaft.

It is obvious from the description that fresh oil can be introduced into this system by means of the pipe 50 and the air inlet port 42 by connecting the pipe 49 to a source of supply which is subject toatmospheric pressure, the oil being pumped into the system by reason of the fact that there is less than atmospheric pressure in the crank case. This arrangement makes it unnecessary to mix the oil with the fuel, as is common in two cycle engine practice. Therefore, the carburetion of the air admitted to the crank case is much more easily effected due to the fact that the gasoline is unmixed with oil and, at the same time, the bearings are more adequately lubricated because the oil introduced directly into the distributing conduits is undiluted.

It is apparent that the present invention discloses a lubricating system for internal combustion engines of the type in which the lubricating oil is mixed with the gasoline, using the crank case as a scavenging and induction pump. The device is equally applicable to employin undiluted oil.

Although specii ic embodiments of my in vention have been illustrated it will be understood that such alterations in the details of construction may be made as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

It will be understood that both of the en gines illustrated are of the conventional two cycle type supplied with carbureted air admitted tothe crank case through inlet port 2 when such port is uncovered by the piston. As is customary in two cycle engine practice, the mixture so admitted is compressed in the crank casefor delivery to the combustion chamber through transfer port 4 when the discharge end 5 thereof is uncovered by the upper end of the piston at the conclusion of the expansion stroke. Likewise, at the conclusion of the expansion stroke, exhaust port 8 is uncovered and may either deliver the charge to the outer air or to any desired manifold or mufiler such as is commonly used in two cycle engine practice and hence requires no illustration here.

The two different engines illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 respectively, demonstrate not only different means of employing shaft rotation to control oil delivery to the bearings, but also demonstrate the fact that the invention is applicable to the engine irrespective of the manner in which the oil is introduced.

What I claim is 1. In a lubricating system, a crank case, a crank shaft journaled in said crank case, means in said crank shaft for receiving a quantity of oil at time of pressure in said first named means to draw oil from said first named means at time of suction in said crank case.

2. In a lubricating system, comprising a crank case adapted to contain an oil supply, bearings at opposite sides of said crank case, a crank shaft journaled in said bearings, a recess in said crank shaft, means for intermittently supplying oil to said recess and means for connecting said recess with the atmosphere at the time of suction in the crank case for transferring said oil to opposite bearing.

3. In a lubricating system comprising a crank case adapted to contain oil, a crank shaft journaled in said crank case, a recess for receiving oil in said crank shaft at time of pressure in said crank case, means for connecting said recess with the atmosphere at time of suction in said crank case and means connecting said recess with a bearing at time of suction whereby to draw oil from said recess.

4. In a lubricating system for an internal combustion engine having a reciprocating piston and a crank case adapted to contain oil, a bearing in said crank case, a crank shaft journaled in said bearing, a recess in said crank shaft, means for transferring oil into said recess and means for connecting said recess with atmosphere at the time of suction in said crank case for transferring oil from said recess through said bearing and back to said crank case by the suction caused by the reciprocation of said piston.

5. In alubricating system for internal combustion engines having a reciprocating piston and a crank case adapted to contain Y oil, a crank shaft journaled in said crank case, means in said crank shaft for receiving a quantity of oil at the time of the pressure in said crank case, means for connecting said first named means withothe atmosphere at the time of suction in crank case, and means for connecting said first named means with a journal of said crank shaft at the time of suction in the crank case whereby to draw oil from said first named means.

6. In a lubricating system for an internal combustion engine having a reciprocating piston and a crank case adapted to contain an oil supply, bearings at opposite sides of said crank case, a crank shaft journaled in said bearings, a recess in said crank shaft adapted to receive a quantity of oil at the time of the pressure stroke of said piston, means for connecting said recess with the atmosphere at the time of the suction stroke of said piston and means for transferring said oil to the opposite bearing of said crank shaft.

7. In a lubricating system for an internal combustion engine a crankcase, a crank shaft journaled in said crank case, a recess con trolled by said crank shaft for receiving a quantity of oil, and additional means controlled by said crank shaft to draw oil from said recess at time of suction in said. crank case;

8. In a lubricating system for an internal combustion engine comprising a crank case adapted to contain oil, a crank shaft journaled in said crank case, a recess controlled by said crank shaft for receiving oil from said crank case, means for connecting said recess with the atmosphere at time of suction in said crank case, and means for connecting ing, and means controlled by said crank' shaft for admitting air to said connecting means at the time of suction in the crank case.

10. In a lubricating system for an internal combustion engine, having a crank case, and a crank shaft journaled in said crank case, means controlled by the crankshaft establishing an air leak from the atmosphere to the crank case at the time of suction in the crank case, and means for admitting oil to said air leak.

11. In a lubricating system for an internal combustion engine, the combination with a reciprocable piston and a crank case periodically subjected to sub-atmospheric pressure in the course of piston reciprocation, of a part requiring lubrication, a conduit leading to said part, a source of lubricant with which said conduit communicates, and a valve controlling lubricant flow through said conduit, and means for automatically closing said valve except when said crank case is subjected to sub-atmos pheric pressure.

12. In a lubricating system for an internal combustion engine, the combustion with a reciprocable piston and a crank case subject periodically to sub-atmospheric pressures in the course of piston reciprocation, an engine bearing requiring lubrication, a valve member connected to move in synchronism with the movement of said piston and providing a valve port, a conduit leading to said bearing and including a portion with which said port is registerable to afford communication with said bearing at times said conduit beyond said port being subject aforesaid.

13. In a lubricating system for an internal combustion engine, the combination with a crank case and a piston reciprocable with respect thereto whereby periodically to subject said crank case to sub-atmospheric pressure, of a shaft rotatable in bearings provided by said crank case, registering ducts in said shaft and bearings, means for delivering lubricant to one of said ducts, means for subjecting the lubricant so delivered to pressures equal to atmospheric and means for delivering lubricant from the other of said ducts toward said crank case upon the registry of said ducts, said registry being timed to occur when said crank case is subject to sub-atmospheric pressures.

14. In alubricating system for an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinder, crank case and piston, said crank case being subject periodically to sub-atmospheric pressures in the course of piston reciprocation, of a crank shaft to which said piston is connected, bearings for said shaft in said crank case, said bearings and shaft being provided with ducts registerable in the course of shaft rotation at a time when said crank case is subject to sub-atmospheric pressures, and means for delivering lubricant to the duct in said bearing under pressure in excess of that in said crank case at the time of duct registration whereby such lubricant will be sucked toward the crank case.- I

15. In a lubricating system for an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinder, crank case and piston, said crank case being subject periodically to sub-atmospheric pressures in the course of piston reciprocation, of a crank shaft to which said piston is connected, bearings for said shaft in said crank case, said bearings and shaft being provided with ducts registerable in the/course of shaft rotation at a time when said crank case is subject to subatmospheric pressures, and means for delivering lubricant to the duct in said bearing under pressure in excess of that in said crank case at the time of duct registration whereby such lubricant will be sucked toward the crank case, and means for centrifugally delivering a portion of said lubricant to a crank portion of said shaft.

16. In a lubricating system for an internal combustion engine, the combination with a crank case and a crank shaft journaled therein and provided with an inwardly ex- .tending duct and a branch duct leading radially to its crank, of means controlled by the crank shaft for delivering lubricant to said inwardly extending duct periodically at the time of suction in the crank case, whereby to effect delivery of a portion of said lubricant centrifugally to said crank.

17. In a lubricating system for an internal combustion engine, the combination with a crank case periodically subject to sub-atmospheric pressure and provided with a bearing, of a crank shaft journaled in said bearing and provided with a duct exposed to pressures within said crank case, an oil reservoir and a duct leading therefrom through said bearing at a point such that the crank shaft duct will register therewith at times of crank case depression, said shaft having a branch duct leading radially to 1ts crank whereby to deliver thereto a portion of the lubricant sucked to said crank case upon the registry of said first mentioned ducts.

18. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a reciprocable piston and a closed chamber in which said piston reciprocates, whereby periodically to produce su atmospheric pressures, of an engmepart requiring lubrication, a source of lubricant, a conduit connecting said source WIth said part, and valve means controlled in accordance with piston reciprocatlon for utihzing the suction in said chamber to induce a flow of lubricant through said conduit.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FINN T. IRGENS. 

